OPERATION HOLIDAY: Jobless for 6 years, single mom has to sacrifice during holidays

By Mercury Staff

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Toni, a single mother to 14-year-old Erika, tries to emphasize the true meaning of the holiday season.

“Even though we’ve been through our trials and tribulations of great intensity, I’ve tried to get my daughter to understand it’s not about the gifts you get, it’s about the season and the real reason for the season,” Toni said of Christmas.

Toni, and her daughter, whose names have been changed to protect their privacy, are once again facing rough financial times this holiday. “If there’s a blessing and I’m able to get you something, we’ll see what we can do,” she said, explaining what she tries to teach Erika. “Work on what you need first and then we’ll see about what you want.”

Toni said she has been out of work since 2006. She has lived with Type 1 diabetes for more than two decades, which makes getting and keeping a job difficult.

“It’s difficult to get control of it, to get some satisfactory control of it,” Toni said of the disease. She was diagnosed as having brittle diabetes, a term that refers to uncontrolled Type 1 diabetes. Although she has an insulin pump, which has helped her to gain some control, “because of the nature of my diabetes … positive or negative stress can send my blood sugars low or high.”

She has to test her blood often, and depending on her sugar level, she needs to help level out her sugars by eating something.

Taking frequent breaks doesn’t go over well with many employers, she said.

“One of the biggest concerns is my blood sugars go low and I don’t get the symptoms,” she said. If her levels drop and she doesn’t notice it, she could pass out or worse.

Toni said she and her daughter rely on public assistance, which she tries to use as efficiently as possible. Although she is grateful for the help she gets, it’s still a struggle.

She explained that Erika gets bullied at school, and though she has tried to use the coping mechanisms and strategies that psychologists recommend, she still has a difficult time.

Toni said she sometimes feels helpless.

“I’m a single mom. Not having someone else on my side as far as parenting ... so many times whatever is going on with her, it weighs so heavily on me and it drains me of whatever energy I have,” Toni said.

Toni said she feels she has gotten Erika to “understand we’re in a position where I can’t just get her what she wants.”

Instead, even around the gift-giving season, Toni asks Erika to prioritize.

“When it comes to things that are really a need, if she needs clothes or shoes, I try to get her to lean more toward that than what she wants,” Toni said.

If Toni could ask for any luxury this holiday season, it would be a reliable vehicle.

At the beginning of 2012, her car broke down. In May they were able to save to get another vehicle, but that vehicle broke down, too.

Since then, “it’s been such an ordeal trying to get it fixed,” she said.

Toni said she cares so much about her daughter, and wishes she could do more, especially around Christmas.

“I try to budget it as efficiently as possible and make whatever sacrifices I have to for my daughter’s sake,” Toni said.

This year, Toni will have a little bit of help thanks to the generosity of Mercury readers.

Now in its 22nd year, Operation Holiday has provided a brighter holiday season to thousands of families with children. Last year, more than $50,000 in donations allowed the program to provide food and gifts for 227 families including 601 children.

This year’s list of families referred by local service agencies is already at 238 families with 635 children.

There is no overhead with Operation Holiday and all funds stay in the Pottstown area. Families are referred by local agencies and churches.

Funds are collected and audited in a non-profit foundation account managed by staff of The Mercury.

Food, which includes the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry, is ordered, bought, packed and distributed by Mercury employees.

“Through the generosity of our readers with donations and of our staff with their time, we are able to help families celebrate a holiday despite their circumstances,” said Mercury Editor Nancy March.

Gift cards for every child in the program 16 years of age or younger are purchased through Boscov’s and distributed in partnership with the referring agencies.

Operation Holiday does not accept families who have not been referred by an agency in order to protect the integrity of the program.

Operation Holiday is funded solely by readers’ contributions. All contributions are tax deductible.

Contributions may be mailed or brought to the offices of The Mercury, P.O. Box 484, Pottstown PA 19464. Make checks payable to Operation Holiday.